Search: “kuwait”

I love this, it looks like something out of Blade Runner. They should definitely consider keeping these lights on the towers permanently. [YouTube]

“The 32 Balloon Journey #NewYorkLovesKuwait” is a collaborative project by three Kuwaiti New Yorkers, Alyamamah Al Awadhi, Mohammad Al Mashaan, and Razan Al Sarraf. In the video they glide through the city of New York, celebrating the National and Liberation holidays in Kuwait. [YouTube]

The music video above is dedicated to the people of Kuwait from the expats of Kuwait (the remaining expats who still haven’t been deported). The video features a bunch of talented expats including a few I know like Monstariam and Basil Al Hadi. Check it out above. [YouTube]

The Kuwait Towers which have been closed since 2012 are set to reopen today, coinciding with National Day and Liberation Day. If anyone gets a chance to pass by before I’m back in Kuwait, please let me know if they’ve changed anything on the inside. [Link]

A pretty quiet weekend this week most likely because many people will be traveling for the national holidays. I’m out of town as well so glad to know I won’t be missing out on much. Check out this weekends events below:

Thursday
Exhibition: Al-Seef
1001 Inventions Exhibition
Wonho Chung Comedy Night
Kuwait Flight Academy Open Day
Rooftop Movie: Enemy

Friday
1001 Inventions Exhibition
Wonho Chung Comedy Night

Saturday
1001 Inventions Exhibition
Wonho Chung Comedy Night
AWARE Desert Camp
Rooftop Movie: Lars and The Real Girl

If you’d like to share an event on the blog [Email Me]

The 2015 edition of the World Press Freedom Index is out and Kuwait is up a spot from last year and still leading in our region.

90 – Kuwait
98 – Lebanon
101 – Israel
115 – Qatar
120 – United Arab Emirates
127 – Oman
156 – Iraq
163 – Bahrain
164 – Saudi Arabia

90th place isn’t Kuwait’s highest ranking, in 2009 Kuwait had come in 60th place. Check out the full index [Here]

This is another super busy weekend but hopefully the weather gets better since most of the events are outdoors. My personal picks for this weekend would be The Kuwait Riders Bike Show and The Yard Outdoor Movie Night for Thursday. For Friday I would do the Concours d’Elegance and Snodrops Market. On Saturday I would do the K’S PATH 10th Anniversary Open Day followed by Saturday Night Lights in The Secret Garden at night. Check out the full list of events for this weekend below:

Thursday
Exhibition: Al-Seef
Exhibition: Van Leo – Master Cairo Portrait Photographer
1001 Inventions Exhibition
Kuwait Concours d’ Elegance
Kuwait Riders 5th Bike Show
The Yard Outdoor Movie Night
Rooftop Movie: Macbeth

Friday
1001 Inventions Exhibition
Kuwait Concours d’ Elegance
Kuwait Riders 5th Bike Show
Food Styling and Photography Workshop
Snodrops Market
Book Club Meeting

Saturday
1001 Inventions Exhibition
Kuwait Concours d’ Elegance
Kuwait Riders 5th Bike Show
Food Styling and Photography Workshop
Guided Tour: Grand Mosque
K’S PATH 10th Anniversary Open Day
Madeenah Tour: City on Display
Dhow Sunset Dinner Cruise
Saturday Night Lights in The Secret Garden
Valentine’s Day Charity Concert
Nuqat Film Screening: Stories From Kuwait
Rooftop Movie: Dr. Strangelove

If you’d like to share an event on the blog [Email Me]

The electricity went off around Kuwait awhile ago around 7:30PM. At first I thought it was just my neighborhood Salmiya but from twitter it looks like the affected areas so far are:

Mishref, Salmiya, Salwa, Surra, Da3iya, Qadsiya, Bayan, Sabah Al-Salem, Mahboula, Jabriya, Riggai, Mubarak Al Kabeer, Fintas, Mangaf, Abu Halifa, Shaab, Hawalli, Arabella and The Avenues.

No idea what caused the blackout but if you’re in the dark and your area isn’t mentioned above let me know. #halablackout

Is this feature new? My brother noticed it a couple of weeks back and my friend told me about it yesterday.

This weekend might be the busiest yet with so much going on. My personal picks are the 1001 Inventions Exhibition, the KLL Yard Sale because I like yard sales, the Open Mic night, Qout Market and the Madeenah Tour. Photographers might be interested in the motocross KMX Race Day event taking place on Saturday since there will be a ton of photo ops. Check out the full list of events taking place this weekend below:

Thursday
Exhibition: Al-Seef
Exhibition: The Replacement by Mahmoud Obaidi
Exhibition: Van Leo – Master Cairo Portrait Photographer
1001 Inventions Exhibition
Al-Mubarakiya Festival
Kuwait Yacht Show 2015
Works of Art by the Indian Women’s Association
Rooftop Movie: Before Sunrise

Friday
1001 Inventions Exhibition
Al-Mubarakiya Festival
Kuwait Yacht Show 2015
Works of Art by the Indian Women’s Association
KLL Yard Sale
Open Mic at Bayt Lothan

Saturday
1001 Inventions Exhibition
Al-Mubarakiya Festival
Kuwait Yacht Show 2015
Qout Market
The Secret Garden Project
The North Face Challenge Race 2015
KMX Race Day
Workshop: Introduction to Figure Sculpting
Madeenah Tour: Bneid Al Gar
Rooftop Movie: The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus

If you’d like to share an event on the blog [Email Me]

The Kuwait Concours d’ Elegance will be taking place next week starting from February 11th and last till February 18th. The Concours d’ Elegance first came to Kuwait back in 2010.

What is the Concours d’Elegance?
Concours is a French word meaning competition. The concept of Concours originates in 17th C. France when aristocrats used to choose their best horse carriages to parade around parks of Paris during the summer week ends and holidays. Later these traditions changed to automobiles from the 20th C. Concours today have strict regulations and cars are inspected by qualified judges. Trophy winners are carefully chosen.

A reader sent me the full schedule of events that are taking place that week, if you’re interested in checking it out click [Here]

Have you guys passed by the Kuwait Towers at night? I kinda love how the towers now have some pretty trippy graphics animated on them. The video above kind of gives you a glimpse of how they look like but its actually even cooler in real life especially with the 70s style kaleidoscope effect. I’m kinda hoping this isn’t just a temporary thing for Hala February but something they’ll keep for a bit longer. [Vimeo]

[YouTube]

Last month Kuwait Airways started receiving their first batch of leased planes and alongside these planes, Kuwait Airways have also gone ahead and given their premium class checking area a facelift as well as the Dasman Lounge.

[YouTube]

In the first video on top we get to the see the business class and economy class of the new planes as well as a tour of the new media system. In the second video we get taken on a tour of the new check in area followed by a tour of the lounge. Both the plane interiors and the lounge look outdated to me but I guess its better than what we had.

Super busy weekend again but the biggest thing going on is the Kuwait Rising Music Festival which shouldn’t be missed. Other than that if you haven’t watched the movie The Americans, you should and you’re lucky because it’s playing this Saturday at the Cinemagic rooftop. Check out the full list of events below:

Thursday
Exhibition: Al-Seef
Exhibition: The Replacement by Mahmoud Obaidi
Exhibition: Van Leo – Master Cairo Portrait Photographer
InfoConnect 2015
Nuqat: Workshop with Karim Jabbari
Rooftop Movie: The Past

Friday
InfoConnect 2015
Nuqat: Workshop with Karim Jabbari
Musical: Poptastic
Book Club Meeting
Music Festival: Kuwait Rising
Concert: Prayaan
Extreme Powerboat Run

Saturday
InfoConnect 2015
Nuqat: Workshop with Karim Jabbari
Musical: Poptastic
Generation Z Winter Bazaar
Madeenah Tour: Baghdad Street Salmiya
Rooftop Movie: The Americans

If you’d like to share an event on the blog [Email Me]

There’s an estimated 600,000 domestic workers in Kuwait and it’s no secret locally and internationally on how some domestic workers are being treated like slaves in Kuwait (and in the region). I don’t know if the majority of house help in Kuwait have access to internet, but I get a fair amount of emails asking for urgent help. From being kicked to being burnt to working 20 hours a day with no medical access and obviously they’re held as prisoners. In some ways it is modern day slavery.

What makes it worse is that there are no concrete laws designed to protect domestic workers in Kuwait. Domestic workers do not fall under Kuwait Labor Law for the private sector, I don’t want to get into the legality of it as it is complicated and really not useful. Do we really need laws to act human? (I don’t know, maybe the philosopher Kant was right)

I am going to write it out, even though it should be common sense

1) 8 hours a day, within reasonable timings. They are humans, they require rest.
2) No physical abuse! No emotional abuse! If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.
3) Give them their passports, you cannot legally keep them.
4) Give them a day or maybe two a week off. Yes off, and off means they can leave the house if they want to. If they want to go to the movies at Cinemagic then they can.
5) They aren’t slaves, don’t lock them in.
6) They aren’t your 14 year old daughters, if they want to date guess what? They can.
7) Give them reasonable pay. 50KD a month is not reasonable, just cause its reasonable in India (where they might be from) it is not reasonable here. They work and live here.

I am sure there are much more things you can do to make their lives better, if you live in a house and your house help are being abused feel free to email me. (I won’t tell your mum, strictly confidential). If you are a domestic worker, also, feel free to email me as well [email protected].

I am also happy to announce that I am working with the Social Work Society of Kuwait. The society does advocacy work and provides social and legal services for the vulnerable population in Kuwait. Currently most of its efforts are focused in providing advocacy and protection for migrant workers. Kindly note, that your emails will be confidential but will be forwarded to them, so I will not be the only person handling your case.

Post by Fajer Ahmed – Legal Counsel
The legal opinions expressed in this post are those of the author Fajer. Opinions expressed by Mark or any other writer on mark248am1.wpenginepowered.com are those of the individual’s and in no way reflect Fajer’s opinion.

Photo from GulfNews